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GV Entebbe airport with groups gathered to welcome dr. Obote (4 shots)
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SCU & SV crowds with women wearing portraits of Dr. Obote (2 shots)
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GV Plane with Dr. Obote descending with welcoming party (2 shots)
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SV Dr. Obote walking across tarmac, returning applause of crowd
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GV troops on airport balcony with crowd below
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SV Dr. Obote shaking hands with supporters and officials
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GV Crowd watching
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GV Dr. Obote waves to crowd, who applied. He enters car
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GV Motorcade leaving airport
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of Ugandans lined Kampala's streets on Thursday (29 May) to cheer former president, Dr. Milton Obote, as he returned to the Uganda capital to prepare a political comeback, after nine years in exile.

SYNOPSIS: At Entebbe Airport crowds turned out to welcome dr. Obote home. he had flown to Uganda some days earlier, and had already held a rally of his Uganda People's Congress Party, but this was his first return to Kampala.

There was tight security as Dr. Obote's plane landed. Troops of the Tanzanian army were on duty. As the former president left the plane, he was greeted by Paulo Muwanga, a long-time Military Commission, the most powerful man in Uganda. It was the Military Commission which less than three weeks ago overthrew President Godfrey Binaisa. "My friend, it's good to be back," dr. Obote told Mr. Muwanga. later mr. Muwanga told newsmen: "This is a great day for Uganda". Although there has been some speculation, Dr. Obote has always denied having any prior knowledge of the coup which preceded his return to the country.

Aides of Dr. Obote said he would stay in Kampala for a few days, then travel to the northern region where he was born. A national Convention of Dr. Obote's Uganda People's Congress was due to be held last Wednesday, but it was cancelled at short notice.

According to the government-owned Uganda Times, Dr. Obote told officials of his party to go home and re-organise themselves. He told them that it would take time and proper planning to prepare to the party for the presidential elections due to be held at the end of the year. Apart from the official welcoming party at Entebbe, Dr. Obote's supporters also received greetings from their leader.

Dr. Obote's aides said he would probably return to Tanzania in about three weeks' time to prepare for a permanent return to Uganda a week later.